Naz Khan is on a mission to get people in North Manchester feeling confident on two wheels. Here's how In Our Nature has supported her to get started, and the impact we've made together.

What’s the story?

Naz is from Cheetham Hill and is a freelance cycle instructor and bike mechanic. In her work across Greater Manchester, she noticed a lack of facilities to help people access cycling in the North of Manchester. She wanted to build something in North Manchester that was a permanent place people could come to and have access to free cycling facilities to help them overcome the barriers that can stop people learning to cycle. Since the start of our project Naz has founded Bike It Walk It CIC, focusing on providing active travel, wellbeing walks and community cycling from their base in Heaton Park.

What did we do?

We teamed up with Naz to run a series of sessions aimed at women in North Manchester to help improve their cycling confidence. The sessions began in November, teaching the group to ride, including using gears and going up and down hills, as well as bike knowledge and repair skills. Each session finished with an optional free hot drink in the park cafe to help everyone warm up and get to know each other a little better!

Did they learn to ride?

Oh yes! Before the project began 60% of the women were complete beginners, 20% had ridden before but were lacking in confidence, and 10% had their own bike and rode regularly. By then end of the project everyone said they felt confident riding, changing gears, going up and down hills and knew about the different parts of the bike!

One particiapnt had never been on a bike before and by the end of the first six sessions she was able to ride around the park, up and down hills and use her gears! A testament to perseverance and great teaching.

“I have never cycle before so I started with Naz, the first two weeks I was trying very hard, and I couldn't, from the third week slowly, slowly I try to cycle, .... it’s been three weeks I’m cycling, I feel very confident yes”

What contributed to the success?

Representation – the group said it made a big difference to have a female Muslim teacher that represented them and their community.

“before when we do the cycling, we see the English people do it, but when we see lady from our community, she’s wearing hijab, make it more confident and encourage more people to come”

Friends – everyone got to know each other, made friends and formed a tight knit group.

“I bring friends to the session so that makes me more confident to learn”

“We were a group of women, we were very good together because we encourage each other”

Communication – the group has a Whatsapp group so they can share experiences and see updates about the sessions.

A great teacher! - All the women noted Naz’s teaching as something they enjoyed most about the project.

“the second week I said no it’s very hard I may not continue ... but then yes, the way she was dealing with us, teaching, it’s ok, encouraging me, I fall down, and she encourage me again ... she makes me very strong to continue”

Accessibility – to make our sessions as accessible as possible the sessions, post session drinks and travel to the sessions were all free for participants.

What was the impact?

A total of 9 women came along to the sessions
100% of the women we surveyed said they felt more confident on a bike
100% of the women we surveyed said the sessions improved their mood e.g. calmer, happier, more confident
100% of the women we surveyed said the sessions made them enjoy riding a bike more

80% of the women we surveyed said they were more likely to ride with their families

“Everything was wonderful, my teacher was very kind, I enjoyed and feel confident.”

“I enjoy every minute in the project the instructor very friendly and helpful, and the sessions improve my mood make me more relaxed and happier.”

What’s next for Bike It Walk It?

With support from the In Our Nature team, Bike It Walk It have been successful in their application to become an official Community Interest Company (CIC)! As a CIC, Bike It Walk It have been successful in winning Cycling UK’s Big Bike Revival fund to provide sessions for family rides, learn to ride and repair led sessions. They’ve also been successful in scoring the TFGM Wheel and Walk fund.

To make sure Naz was able to run her sessions after the end of our project we designed a logo for Bike It Walk It and invested in the equipment she would need long term. As well as this, Naz has also been asked to speak at the GM Moving Conference 2025, the conference dedicated to enabling active lives for everyone across Greater Manchester. If you’re going along look out for Naz!

“You trusted my vision and gave me permission to utilise your support and resources in ways which were right for our group. For someone who is new to community work I was learning as I went along, it turns out, you can never have enough gloves! Your open flexible approach took away the pressure and stress, I was able to tailor how you supported us to meet our groups needs. The hub has and will continue to remove barriers to people engaging in cycling.” - Naz, founder of Bike It Walk it

Bike It Walk It now have regular walking and cycling sessions running from Heaton Park. The original cycling confidence sessions are still running and many of the group still attend each week!

Check out what else Bike It Walk It are up to on their Instagram!